The Ministry of Transportation has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare of port loading and unloading workers (TKBM), emphasizing their vital role in maintaining the smooth flow of goods across Indonesia’s seaports.

Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud said his office fully supports the recommendations made during the National Workshop on Optimizing TKBM Policy Management held in Jakarta on Monday, October 13, 2025. The event, organized by labor unions and attended by key government agencies, focused on strengthening labor protection and productivity within the port sector.

“As government representatives at the ports, we fully support this initiative. Anyone employing TKBM workers must think seriously about their welfare,” Masyhud said.

“Our goal is to optimize their role so they can contribute more effectively to the smooth operation of cargo handling which is a core mandate for the Ministry of Transportation,” he added.

He noted that the ministry’s primary responsibility is to ensure logistics flow and cargo movement remain uninterrupted. To achieve this, he said, coordination with port operators, business associations, and labor cooperatives is crucial.

“We communicate with business actors and associations on how labor arrangements should support cargo efficiency. Ports are not just logistics hubs, they are also major employment centers,” Masyhud cited.

While automation is advancing rapidly in developed countries, Masyhud said Indonesia’s port system still depends significantly on human labor, especially in smaller or regional ports. He emphasized that TKBM workers must continue to enhance their skills and capacity to remain competitive.

Social security

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Manpower acknowledged that social protection for port workers remains uneven. According to, Director of Institutional Affairs and Dispute Prevention at the Ministry, Heru Widyanto, only about half of all TKBM workers are currently covered by employment insurance.

“From our data, around 42,000 TKBM workers are covered under the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) programs, including pension and old-age benefits. But compared to the total of about 86,000 workers nationwide, only around half are protected,” Heru said.

To address this gap, the ministry plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)to improve compliance among employers and cooperatives through education and outreach.

“We will conduct literacy and awareness programs so that cooperatives and port employers understand their obligation to register TKBM workers for social protection,” Heru said.

He added that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants can also access additional benefits, such as home renovation assistance and housing loans.

“Housing support is part of the extended benefits for active participants,” Heru noted.